Safety device



Jan. 3, 1956 R. c. GSCHYVIND SAFETY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1954 INVENTOR. 4 05597 s'ahw/w Jan. 3, 1.956 R. c. GSCHWIND SAFETY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30. 1954 u F M 3 1 INVENTOR. Kofizae r d's'cwn mm %%M Kw .19 5 114 605).

i I in 3 .5 33335 United States Patent-O zyzzaez fih t ihm zvlcs Robert C Gsch i g, gm 11L s hhh Marsh as iaeeaeheino, 415 8 1 7 Claims- (Cl. 255E157) y v htiq rela es is a ew and useful m n ent in a safety device" in the nature of an apparatus for. preventing falls into space.

A principal object of my invention is a provision in a device of this character of a slrralland'light-weight om un suitab e f r s rr ihs hp hh l c of h user.

Another object of my invention is the provision in a device of this charactehot a sirnple braking mechanism whereby the wi hdrawa Qt the safet mp 9? o h v c m aslhhl y h hhr s ed hheyhhh ly Presented- Another object of my invention-is the provision' in a device of this ch of a sirn'ple arrangement of parts whereby the bra g rnech'a n may be easily reset.

Still another hd dhsl ihm tthht h ihst m hon is h PIQYi$i 1 advi e t hh hhras which Permits thd aw a f .tY e s rqhl, h aQ l if h wi dr ws t agqqmh shsd. th ohgh a slo n gradual m vement hit he he .ha ihz l m v me of a user h l l leh hrm n h s 1 .h WQ h-H A h hhist h m i h ih is he hrq si a device ofi this ch v p1e arrangement of parts wh re y helht $92 gss eesh y i h sh e r the increased mwq lfi lf safety rope with respect to the device.

Ahhther b ect 9 m iRYPQllP?! i he. Pr vi n in a deviceof thisch acter a sinirple arrangement of parts which are econo Otherobjects The inventio n c vel con i binationand semeh f il p rts to. he hs slhhfih descr a claimed. i

Th v o -will behest hhs rstqq b feren e w the accompahying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, andinwhich:

e 1 .ne peqive issvpfith hYeh on;

2 h a aheithsiihe seh hiha deta l ie 2? invention h lhh sa et in e whhhd h hhp l y thereof;

3 is aseetiqh xleteil, ew thhehhhhsthh s 011 line 3v- -3.of

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hraking lever as employed in my invention;

5 is a if hi a dQil Y Wh9W E ll1 d d lines the posi 'onhf. the, bra nglleyenin an inoperative position;

e- 6 he iew sim a t .F 5 hht hq i efi h hr ing lever in bralging p] Fig. 7 is a sectional detail View taicen substantially on line 7 .7 of Fig. 6; and V Fig. 8 he fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially hh li e hf-.8 19f Fi It is becoining the accepted practice, and in a few States the statutory requirenientg that a perso n whose employment requires hint to work on the outside of a building and oifthe' ground, use a safety device to prevent an accidental nee fall into-space. My invention is such a device. 'it'is". by design small in size, light in weight,

and as such is adapted to be conveniently worn onlthe 'back of the user.

Iheperspective view of guy device as shown in Fig.1 discloses a housing' 1,0, nade up of a front plate 11 and a backplate 12 joinedtogethertby nuts and bolts 13' along two opposite periph'eral edges. The front plate and the-back pl ate" 1,2fare joined'tog ther by side and end plates 13. 'Ihe'hack plate 12 on" its opposite ,side withjre spect to the-housing 10, provides a .methodfor attaching a safety harness 14. This harness 14 together with its method of attachment to the back plate 12 may be of any well known construction and arrangement. One ofthe end'plates '13 is 'provided withan aperture 15 through which is adapted td pass the safety rope l6gas employed in my invention. Carried ,by this end plate adjacent the aperture 15; 1* provide a guide rod 17 for guiding the rope 16 as it passes from the housing 10.

Journal led through bearings1'8 and 19;forrned in the front plate 11 and back plate 12 respectively of the housing lfl is a rotatableshift-ZO. This shaft 20 has one end 21 protruding beyond the housing 10 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Adap ated' to be frictionally secured to this end 21 ofthe shaft 20 is a handle'22, which is provided for normally rotating the shaft 20. The opposite end of the shaft terminates'into the -bearing 19 which-is countersunkso as to preventa flush surface even with the back plate 12 of the housing 10.

Mounted on theshaft 20 and rotatable therewith isa pulley member 23. This pulley provides a small hub 24 towhich one end of the safety rope may be attached inany convenient manner. This pulley-has ;one side 25 formed to provide a channel-shaped guide 26. Positioned within this guide 2 6 is a V-be'lt 27 of a smaller circumference than that of" the channel-shaped guide. The

' ends of this V-belt 27 have'fastened thereto mounting blocks 28 and 29. These blocks 28 and 29 are riveted to the \l-belt" 27 in any approved manner such as is shown at '30. Bloclc 28 has formedtherein a central opening 31 through which is journ alled, a fixed support rod 3 2 This lgod 32 extends parallelto the long axis of e .hhh24 and fifiQQQiIhQEIY a p ed n r o the fron pla e the back. plate 2 of h h n 1. Bm h .29 whe he therefrom a. ekins e his lever ishrmdedwi h, h lat r y t n in rm 34, which arrn-isof, a sufficient width so as to be freely ins-m lais be we n th side w l 25: of th pul y. me ry.- ber 23 andthe front plate 11. Thisarn 34. is constructed so as to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular ethee oh zs sp ePulle member a is v ew d in Fig. 7.

'i elsvhr 31 is. prhvidetiwith a i h t h l 1-,: h ned slot 35. The legi portion of the L shaped slot .35 is con,- structed toextend in an opposite. direction with respect to thearrn 34 of theleyer 33, as shown in Figs, 5 and-.6

Protruding into this sl ot 35 is a guide pin 36,0arried y h oh la elil Q h h h h A o e l n th f onhpl te 1;, an i Q FQ SP imiEY'PQS BWiS? to the slot-'35; formed ip the lever 3.3 is an elongated- 51,9; 37. Journalled through this-sloth] is a guide pin 3,8,. This uide pi -3 8 i -p a hhfl-with n r ed heady which is adapted toride on the surfaces adiacent the; slo,t 37-. The opposite end of th is. guide pin 38,1sadapted to be screwed into the .block 29 -.asshown inEig. 8, a t-382.

The bloc k 29;is provided; with. a depending; stud 40-40 'ansior spring-41.

the position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. In such a position the V-belt 27 will be drawn into the channel 26 of the side wall 25 of the pulley member 23. As the V-belt 27 is thus moved rotation of the pulley member 23 is prevented.

For releasing the V-belt 27 from the channel 26 of the side wall 25 of the pulley 23, the block 29 with the pin 38 is forced against the action of the spring 41 to the extreme end of the elongated slot 37, as shown in Fig. 5. At the same time, the pin 36 will ride through the L-shaped slot 35 and into the leg portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 5, where it will be temporarily latched. As the pin 38 of the block 29 is oif center with respect thereto, the pull of the spring 41 is in such a direction that the pin 36 will be forced into the leg of the L-shaped slot 35 and held therein. In other words, under the specific arrangement and cooperation between the spring 41 and the pin 33, the block 29 together with the lever 33 has a tendency under the tension of the spring 41 to pivot in a clockwise direction about the pin 38. This pivotal movement Will thus deposit the pin 36 into the leg portion of the L-shaped slot 35, as shown in Fig. 5.

The side wall 25 of the pulley member 23, adjacent the front plate 11 of the housing 10, is milled out to provide an open area 43. In this area 43 are positioned pivotal trip fingers 44. These trip fingers 44 are pivotally carried on studs 45 and are counterweighted at their free end, as shown in Fig. 3. These fingers 44 are held in engagement with positioning studs 46 by springs 47. In such a position the counterweighted ends of the trip fingers 44 will upon slow rotation of the pulley member 23 with the shaft 20 pass beneath the farthest extremity of the arm 34 of the braking lever 33, as shown in Fig. 3. However, if the speed of rotation of the pulley member 23 is increased to a preselected speed, the fingers 44 by centrifugal force will overcome the tension of the springs 47 and move into a position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. In this position the fingers 44 will engage the arm 34 of the braking lever 33 and cause the pin 36 to ride out of the leg portion of the L-shaped slot 35. At this time, the mounting block 29, together with the braking lever 33, will be moved into a braking position by the tension of the spring 41. As the block 29 and the braking lever 33 are guided in their movement by the pin 38 and slot 37, the V-belt 27 will bind in the channelshaped guide 26 and thereby prevent rotation of the pulley member 23. It is readily apparent that as the rope 16 is fastened to the hub 24 of the pulley member 23 that the braking and preventing of rotation of the pulley member 23 will also effect and prevent withdrawal of the rope 16 from the housing 10.

As the V-belt 27 is drawn into the channel shaped guide 26 by the action of the spring 41, the braking power of the V-belt 27 is greatly increased by reason of the rotation of the pulley member 23. The rotation of the pulley member 23 is in the identical direction as the movement of the V-belt 27 with respect to the channel shaped guide 26. Thus, when the braking lever 33 is tripped by the fingers 44, the V-belt 27 by the tension of the spring 41 and by its frictional engagement in the channel shaped guide 26 is moved in the same direction and therefore binds itself with greater pressure.

In operation my safety device, by the harness 14 is strapped to the back of the user. The free end of the safety rope 16 is attached to some point immediately above the area of work of the user. As the rope passes from the aperture formed in the housing 10 and is guided by the rod 17, it is apparent that under normal circumstances that it will in no way interfere with the normal movements of a man working on a scaffold. As the shaft and the pulley member 23 may be rotated by the withdrawal of the rope 16 during the normal movements of the user without the tripping of the braking lever 33, it is again apparent that my device affords the wearer a free range of activity. However, if the wearer should fall into space, the increased rotation of the pulley member 23 by the withdrawal of the rope 16 from the housing 10, would cause the trip fingers 44 by centrifugal force to engage the arm 34 and trip the braking lever 33 as aforedescribed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A safety device of the class described comprising a housing, a safety cable pulley member rotatably carried within said housing, a safety cable having one end connected to said pulley member, said housing having an aperture formed in one wall thereof and through which the opposite free end of said cable projects for connection to a point distant from said housing, braking means carried by said pulley member and movable into engagement with said member for preventing rotation of said member in one direction, means for normally holding said braking means from braking position with respect to said pulley member, and means carried by said pulley member for releasing said holding means to permit said braking means to move in the direction of rotation of said pulley member to prevent rotation of said pulley in said one direction when the rotation of said pulley member reaches a predetermined speed.

2. A safety device of the class described comprising a housing, a safety cable pulley member rotatably carried within said housing, a safety cable having one end connected to said pulley member, said housing having an aperture formed in one Wall thereof and through which the opposite free end of said cable projects for connection to a point distant from said housing, braking means carried by said pulley member and movable into engagement with said member for preventing rotation of said member in one direction, means for normally holding said braking means from braking position with respect to said pulley member, and means carried by said pulley member for releasing said holding means to permit said braking means to move in the direction of rotation of said pulley member to prevent rotation of said pulley in said one direction when the rotation of said pulley member reaches a predetermined speed, said last-named means including trip fingers pivotally carried by said pulley member and engageable with said holding means when said pulley member rotates in said one direction at a predetermined speed, said trip fingers pivoted by centrifugal force into engaging position with said braking lever when said pulley member rotates in said one direction at a predetermined speed.

3. A safety device of the class described comprising a housing, a safety cable pulley member rotatably carried within said housing, a safety cable having one end connected to said pulley member, said housing having an aperture formed in one wall thereof and through which the opposite free end of said cable projects for connection to a point distant from said housing, radial braking means carried by said pulley member and movable into engagement with said member for preventing rotation of said member in one direction, means for normally holding said braking means from braking position with respect to said pulley member, and means carried by said pulley member for releasing said holding means to permit said braking means to move in the direction of rotation of said pulley member to prevent rotation of said pulley in said one direction when the rotation of said pulley member reaches a predetermined speed, said last-named means including trip fingers pivotally carried by said pulley member and engageable with said holding means when said pulley member rotates in said one direction at a predetermined speed.

4. A safety device of the ciass described comprising a housing, a safety cable pulley member rotatably carried within said housing, a safety cable having one end connected to said pulley member, said housing having an aperture formed in one wall thereof and through which the opposite free end of said cable projects for connection to a point distant from said housing, radial braking means carried by said pulley member and movable into engagement with said member for preventing rotation of said member in one direction, said braking means including a V-belt frictionally engageable in a U-shaped guide formed in the peripheral edge of said pulley member, means for normally holding said braking means from braking position with respect to said pulley member, and means carried by said pulley member for releasing said holding means to permit said braking means to move in the direction of rotation of said pulley member to prevent rotation of said pulley in said one direction when the rotation of said pulley member reaches a predetermined speed, said last-named means including trip fingers pivotally carried by said pulley member and engageable with said holding means when said pulley member rotates in said one direction at a predetermined speed.

5. A safety device of the class described comprising a housing, a safety cable pulley member rotatably carried within said housing, a safety cable having one end connected to said pulley member, said housing having an aperture formed in one wall thereof and through which the opposite free end of said cable projects for connection to a point distant from said housing, braking means carried by said pulley member and movable into engagement with said member for preventing rotation of said member in one direction, a braking lever carried by said braking means and having operative connection to said housing for holding said braking means in an inoperative position with respect to said pulley member, and means carried by said pulley member for actuating said braking lever to release said braking means to permit said braking means to move in the direction of rotation of said pulley member to prevent rotation of said pulley member in said one direction when the rotation of said pulley member reaches a predetermined speed.

6. A safety device of the class described comprising a housing, a safety cable pulley member rotatably carried within said housing, a safety cable having one end connected to said pulley member, said housing having an aperture formed in one wall thereof and through which the opposite free end of said cable projects for connection to a point distant from said housing, braking means carried by said pulley member for preventing rotation of said member in one direction, a braking lever carried by said braking means and having slidable connection to said housing, spring means for sliding said lever in one direction, holding means carried by said housing and operating in a slot formed in said lever for preventing said spring means from sliding said lever in said one direction, and means carried by said pulley and separately engaging said braking lever for releasing said holding means to permit said braking lever and said braking means to be moved in one direction by said spring means to permit said braking means to prevent rotation of said pulley in said one direction when the pulley reaches a predetermined speed.

7. A safety device of the class described comprising a housing, a safety cable pulley member rotatably carried within said housing, a safety cable having one end connected to said pulley member, said housing having an aperture formed in one wall thereof and through which the opposite free end of said cable projects for connection to a point distant from said housing, braking means carried by said pulley member for preventing rotation of said member in one direction, a braking lever carried by said braking means and having slidable connection to said housing, spring means for sliding said lever in one direction, holding means carried by said housing and operating in a slot formed in said lever for preventing said spring means from sliding said lever in said one direction, and means carried by said pulley and separately engaging said braking lever for releasing said holding means to permit said braking lever and said braking means to be moved in one direction by said spring means to permit said braking means to prevent rotation of said pulley in said one direction when the pulley reaches a predetermined speed, said last-named means including trip fingers pivotally carried by said pulley member and engageable with said holding means when said pulley member rotates in said one direction at a predetermined speed, said trip fingers pivoted by centrifugal force into engaging position with said braking lever when said pulley member rotates in said one direction at a predetermined speed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,561,832 Wilson July 24, 1951 2,569,597 Bailey, Sr Oct. 2, 1951 2,665,111 Sokolik Jan. 5, 1954 

